mh_parser/vol_split/4 - Numbers/Chapter 2.xml

<div2 id="Num.iii" n="iii" next="Num.iv" prev="Num.ii" progress="64.29%" title="Chapter II">
<h2 id="Num.iii-p0.1">N U M B E R S</h2>
<h3 id="Num.iii-p0.2">CHAP. II.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Num.iii-p1">The thousands of Israel, having been mustered in
the former chapter, in this are marshalled, and a regular
disposition is made of their camp, by a divine appointment. Here
is, I. A general order concerning it, <scripRef id="Num.iii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.1-Num.2.2" parsed="|Num|2|1|2|2" passage="Nu 2:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. Particular directions for the
posting of each of the tribes, in four distinct squadrons, three
tribes in each squadron. 1. In the van-guard on the east were
posted Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, <scripRef id="Num.iii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.3-Num.2.9" parsed="|Num|2|3|2|9" passage="Nu 2:3-9">ver. 3-9</scripRef>. 2. In the right wing, southward,
Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, <scripRef id="Num.iii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.10-Num.2.16" parsed="|Num|2|10|2|16" passage="Nu 2:10-16">ver.
10-16</scripRef>. 3. In the rear, westward, Ephraim, Manasseh, and
Benjamin, <scripRef id="Num.iii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.18-Num.2.24" parsed="|Num|2|18|2|24" passage="Nu 2:18-24">ver. 18-24</scripRef>. 4.
In the left wing, northward, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali, <scripRef id="Num.iii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.25-Num.2.31" parsed="|Num|2|25|2|31" passage="Nu 2:25-31">ver. 25-31</scripRef>. 5. The tabernacle in
the centre, <scripRef id="Num.iii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.17" parsed="|Num|2|17|0|0" passage="Nu 2:17">ver. 17</scripRef>. III.
The conclusion of this appointment, <scripRef id="Num.iii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.32" parsed="|Num|2|32|0|0" passage="Nu 2:32">ver. 32</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Num.iii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Num.2" parsed="|Num|2|0|0|0" passage="Nu 2" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Num.iii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.1-Num.2.2" parsed="|Num|2|1|2|2" passage="Nu 2:1-2" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.2.1-Num.2.2">
<h4 id="Num.iii-p1.10">The Stations of the Several
Tribes. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.iii-p1.11">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Num.iii-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.iii-p2.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,   2 Every man of the
children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign
of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the
congregation shall they pitch.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.iii-p3">Here is the general appointment given both
for their orderly encampment where they rested and their orderly
march when they moved. Some order, it is possible, they had
observed hitherto; they came out of Egypt in rank and file
(<scripRef id="Num.iii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.13.18" parsed="|Exod|13|18|0|0" passage="Ex 13:18">Exod. xiii. 18</scripRef>), but now
they were put into a better model. 1. They all dwelt in tents, and
when they marched carried all their tents along with them, for
<i>they found no city to dwell in,</i> <scripRef id="Num.iii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.4" parsed="|Ps|107|4|0|0" passage="Ps 107:4">Ps. cvii. 4</scripRef>. This represents to us our state
in this world. It is a movable state (we are here to-day and gone
to-morrow); and it is a military state: is not our life a warfare?
We do but pitch our tents in this world, and have in it no
continuing city. Let us, therefore, while we are pitching in this
world, be pressing through it. 2. Those of a tribe were to pitch
together, <i>every man by his own standard.</i> Note, It is the
will of God that mutual love and affection, converse and communion,
should be kept up among relations. Those that are of kin to each
other should, as much as they can, be acquainted with each other;
and the bonds of nature should be improved for the strengthening of
the bonds of Christian communion. 3. Every one must know his place
and keep in it; they were not allowed to fix where they pleased,
nor to remove when they pleased, but God quarters them, with a
charge to abide in their quarters. Note, It is God that <i>appoints
us the bounds of our habitation,</i> and to him we must refer
ourselves. <i>He shall choose our inheritance for us</i> (<scripRef id="Num.iii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.47.4" parsed="|Ps|47|4|0|0" passage="Ps 47:4">Ps. xlvii. 4</scripRef>), and in his choice we
must acquiesce, and not love to flit, nor be <i>as the bird that
wanders from her nest.</i> 4. Every tribe had its standard, flag,
or ensign, and it should seem every family had some particular
ensign of their father's house, which was carried as with us the
colours of each troop or company in a regiment are. These were of
use for the distinction of tribes and families, and the gathering
and keeping of them together, in allusion to which the preaching of
the gospel is said to <i>lift up an ensign, to which the Gentiles
shall seek,</i> and by which they shall pitch, <scripRef id="Num.iii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.11.10 Bible:Isa.11.12" parsed="|Isa|11|10|0|0;|Isa|11|12|0|0" passage="Isa 11:10,12">Isa. xi. 10, 12</scripRef>. Note, God is the God of
order, and not of confusion. These standards made this mighty army
seem more beautiful to its friends and more formidable to its
enemies. The church of Christ is said to be as <i>terrible as an
army with banners,</i> <scripRef id="Num.iii-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Song.6.10" parsed="|Song|6|10|0|0" passage="So 6:10">Cant. vi.
10</scripRef>. It is uncertain how these standards were
distinguished: some conjecture that the standard of each tribe was
of the same colour with the precious stone in which the name of
that tribe was written in the high priest's ephod, and that this
was all the difference. Many of the modern Jews think there was
some coat of arms painted in each standard, which had reference to
the blessing of that tribe by Jacob. Judah bore a lion, Dan a
serpent, Naphtali a hind, Benjamin a wolf, &amp;c. Some of them say
the four principal standards were, Judah a lion, Reuben a man,
Joseph an ox, and Dan an eagle, making the appearances in Ezekiel's
vision to allude it. Others say the name of each tribe was written
in its standard. Whatever it was, no doubt it gave a certain
direction. 5. They were to pitch about the tabernacle, which was to
be in the midst of them, as the tent of pavilion of a general in
the centre of an army. They must encamp round the tabernacle, (1.)
That it might be equally a comfort and joy to them all, as it was a
token of God's gracious presence with them. <scripRef id="Num.iii-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.46.5" parsed="|Ps|46|5|0|0" passage="Ps 46:5">Ps. xlvi. 5</scripRef>, <i>God is in the midst of her,
she shall not be moved.</i> Their camp had reason to be hearty,
when thus they had God in the heart of them. To have bread from
heaven every day round about their camp, and fire from heaven, with
other tokens of God's favour, in the midst of their camp, was
abundantly sufficient to answer that question, <i>Is the Lord among
us, or is he not? Happy art thou, O Israel!</i> It is probable that
the doors of all their tents were made to look towards the
tabernacle from all sides, for every Israelite should have his eyes
always towards the Lord; therefore they worshipped at the
tent-door. The tabernacle was in the midst of the camp, that it
might be near to them; for it is a very desirable thing to have the
solemn administrations of holy ordinances near us and within our
reach. <i>The kingdom of God is among you.</i> (2.) That they might
be a guard and defence upon the tabernacle and the Levites on every
side. No invader could come near God's tabernacle without first
penetrating the thickest of their squadrons. Note, If God undertake
the protection of our comforts, we ought in our places to undertake
the protection of his institutions, and stand up in defence of his
honour, and interest, and ministers. 6. Yet they were to pitch afar
off, in reverence to the sanctuary, that it might not seem crowded
and thrust up among them, and that the common business of the camp
might be no annoyance to it. They were also taught to keep their
distance, lest too much familiarity should breed contempt. It is
supposed (from <scripRef id="Num.iii-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:Josh.3.4" parsed="|Josh|3|4|0|0" passage="Jos 3:4">Joshua iii.
4</scripRef>) that the distance between the nearest part of the
camp and the tabernacle (or perhaps between them and the camp of
the Levites, who pitched near the tabernacle) was 2000 cubits, that
is, 1000 yards, little more than half a measured mile with us; but
the outer parts of the camp must needs be much further off. Some
compute that the extent of their camp could be no less than twelve
miles square; for it was like a movable city, with streets and
lanes, in which perhaps the manna fell, as well as on the outside
of the camp, that they might have it at their doors. In the
Christian church we read of a throne (as in the tabernacle there
was a mercy-seat) which is called a <i>glorious high throne from
the beginning</i> (<scripRef id="Num.iii-p3.8" osisRef="Bible:Jer.17.12" parsed="|Jer|17|12|0|0" passage="Jer 17:12">Jer. xvii.
12</scripRef>), and that throne surrounded by spiritual Israelites,
twenty-four elders, double to the number of the tribes, <i>clothed
in white raiment</i> (<scripRef id="Num.iii-p3.9" osisRef="Bible:Rev.4.4" parsed="|Rev|4|4|0|0" passage="Re 4:4">Rev. iv.
4</scripRef>), and the banner over them is <i>Love;</i> but we are
not ordered, as they were, to pitch afar off; no, we are invited to
draw near, and come boldly. The saints of the Most High are said to
be <i>round about him,</i> <scripRef id="Num.iii-p3.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.76.11" parsed="|Ps|76|11|0|0" passage="Ps 76:11">Ps. lxxvi.
11</scripRef>. God by his grace keep us close to him!</p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.iii-p3.11" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.3-Num.2.34" parsed="|Num|2|3|2|34" passage="Nu 2:3-34" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.2.3-Num.2.34">
<p class="passage" id="Num.iii-p4">3 And on the east side toward the rising of the
sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch
throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab <i>shall
be</i> captain of the children of Judah.   4 And his host, and
those that were numbered of them, <i>were</i> threescore and
fourteen thousand and six hundred.   5 And those that do pitch
next unto him <i>shall be</i> the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel
the son of Zuar <i>shall be</i> captain of the children of
Issachar.   6 And his host, and those that were numbered
thereof, <i>were</i> fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
  7 <i>Then</i> the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of
Helon <i>shall be</i> captain of the children of Zebulun.   8
And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, <i>were</i>
fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.   9 All that were
numbered in the camp of Judah <i>were</i> an hundred thousand and
fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout
their armies. These shall first set forth.   10 On the south
side <i>shall be</i> the standard of the camp of Reuben according
to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben <i>shall
be</i> Elizur the son of Shedeur.   11 And his host, and those
that were numbered thereof, <i>were</i> forty and six thousand and
five hundred.   12 And those which pitch by him <i>shall
be</i> the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of
Simeon <i>shall be</i> Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.   13
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, <i>were</i>
fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.   14 Then the tribe
of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad <i>shall be</i> Eliasaph
the son of Reuel.   15 And his host, and those that were
numbered of them, <i>were</i> forty and five thousand and six
hundred and fifty.   16 All that were numbered in the camp of
Reuben <i>were</i> an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand
and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall
set forth in the second rank.   17 Then the tabernacle of the
congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the
midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every
man in his place by their standards.   18 On the west side
<i>shall be</i> the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to
their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim <i>shall
be</i> Elishama the son of Ammihud.   19 And his host, and
those that were numbered of them, <i>were</i> forty thousand and
five hundred.   20 And by him <i>shall be</i> the tribe of
Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh <i>shall
be</i> Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.   21 And his host, and
those that were numbered of them, <i>were</i> thirty and two
thousand and two hundred.   22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and
the captain of the sons of Benjamin <i>shall be</i> Abidan the son
of Gideoni.   23 And his host, and those that were numbered of
them, <i>were</i> thirty and five thousand and four hundred.  
24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim <i>were</i> an
hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout
their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.  
25 The standard of the camp of Dan <i>shall be</i> on the north
side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan
<i>shall be</i> Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.   26 And his
host, and those that were numbered of them, <i>were</i> threescore
and two thousand and seven hundred.   27 And those that encamp
by him <i>shall be</i> the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the
children of Asher <i>shall be</i> Pagiel the son of Ocran.  
28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, <i>were</i>
forty and one thousand and five hundred.   29 Then the tribe
of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali <i>shall
be</i> Ahira the son of Enan.   30 And his host, and those
that were numbered of them, <i>were</i> fifty and three thousand
and four hundred.   31 All they that were numbered in the camp
of Dan <i>were</i> an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand
and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.
  32 These <i>are</i> those which were numbered of the
children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that
were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts <i>were</i> six
hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
  33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of
Israel; as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.iii-p4.1">Lord</span> commanded Moses.
  34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.iii-p4.2">Lord</span> commanded Moses: so they
pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one
after their families, according to the house of their fathers.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.iii-p5">We have here the particular distribution of
the twelve tribes into four squadrons, three tribes in a squadron,
one of which was to lead the other two. Observe, 1. God himself
appointed them their place, to prevent strife and envy among them.
Had they been left to determine precedency among themselves, they
would have been in danger of quarrelling with one another (as the
disciples who strove <i>which should be greatest</i>); each would
have had a pretence to be first, or at least not to be last. Had it
been left to Moses to determine, they would have quarrelled with
him, and charged him with partiality; therefore God does it, who is
himself the fountain and judge of honour, and in his appointment
all must acquiesce. If God in his providence advance others above
us, and abase us, we ought to be as well satisfied in his doing it
in that way as if he did it, as this was done here, by a voice out
of the tabernacle; and this consideration, that it appears to be
the will of God it should be so, should effectually silence all
envies and discontents. And as far as our place comes to be our
choice our Saviour has given us a rule in <scripRef id="Num.iii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.14.8" parsed="|Luke|14|8|0|0" passage="Lu 14:8">Luke xiv. 8</scripRef>, <i>Sit not down in the highest
room;</i> and another in <scripRef id="Num.iii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.20.27" parsed="|Matt|20|27|0|0" passage="Mt 20:27">Matt. xx.
27</scripRef>, <i>He that will be chief, let him be your
servant.</i> Those that are most humble and most serviceable are
really most honourable. 2. Every tribe had a captain, a prince, or
commander-in-chief, whom God himself nominated, the same that had
been appointed to number them, <scripRef id="Num.iii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.1.5" parsed="|Num|1|5|0|0" passage="Nu 1:5"><i>ch.</i> i. 5</scripRef>. Our being all the children of
one Adam is so far from justifying the levellers, and taking away
the distinction of place and honour, that even among the children
of the same Abraham, the same Jacob, the same Judah, God himself
appointed that one should be captain of all the rest. There are
<i>powers ordained of God,</i> and those to whom honour and fear
are due and must be paid. Some observe the significancy of the
names of these princes, at least, in general, how much God was in
the thoughts of those that gave them their names, for most of them
have <i>El, God,</i> at one end or other of their names.
<i>Nethaneel, the gift of God; Eliab, my God a Father; Elizur, my
God a rock; Shelumiel, God my peace; Eliasaph, God has added;
Elishama, my God has heard: Gamaliel, God my reward; Pagiel, God
has met me.</i> By this it appears that the Israelites in Egypt did
not quite forget the name of their God, but, when they wanted other
memorials, preserved the remembrance of it in the names of their
children, and therewith comforted themselves in their affliction.
3. Those tribes were placed together under the same standard that
were nearest of kin to each other; Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,
were the three younger sons of Leah, and they were put together;
and Issachar and Zebulun would not grudge to be under Judah, since
they were his younger brethren. Reuben and Simeon would not have
been content in their place. Therefore Reuben, Jacob's eldest son,
is made chief of the next squadron; Simeon, no doubt, is willing to
be under him, and Gad, the son of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, is fitly
added to them in Levi's room: Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, are
all the posterity of Rachel. Dan, the eldest son of Bilhah, is made
a leading tribe, though the son of a concubine, that more abundant
honour might be bestowed on that which lacked; and it was said,
<i>Dan should judge his people,</i> and to him were added two
younger sons of the handmaids. Thus unexceptionable was the order
in which they were placed. 4. The tribe of Judah was in the first
post of honour, encamped towards the rising sun, and in their
marches led the van, not only because it was the most numerous
tribe, but chiefly because from that tribe Christ was to come, who
is the <i>Lion of the tribe of Judah,</i> and was to descend from
the loins of him who was now nominated chief captain of that tribe.
Nahshon is reckoned among the ancestors of Christ, <scripRef id="Num.iii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.1.4" parsed="|Matt|1|4|0|0" passage="Mt 1:4">Matt. i. 4</scripRef>. So that, when he went
before them, Christ himself went before them in effect, as their
leader. Judah was the first of the twelve sons of Jacob that was
blessed. Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, were censured by their dying
father; he therefore being first in blessing, though not in birth,
is put first, to teach children how to value the smiles of their
godly parents and dread their frowns. 5. The tribes of Levi pitched
closely about the tabernacle, within the rest of their tribes,
<scripRef id="Num.iii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.17" parsed="|Num|2|17|0|0" passage="Nu 2:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. They must
defend the sanctuary, and then the rest of the tribes must defend
them. Thus, in the vision which John saw of the glory of heaven,
between the elders and the throne were four <i>living creatures
full of eyes,</i> <scripRef id="Num.iii-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.4.6 Bible:Rev.4.8" parsed="|Rev|4|6|0|0;|Rev|4|8|0|0" passage="Re 4:6,8">Rev. iv. 6,
8</scripRef>. Civil powers should protect the religious interests
of a nation, and be a defence upon that glory. 6. The camp of Dan
(and so that tribe is called long after their settlement in Canaan
(<scripRef id="Num.iii-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:Judg.13.25" parsed="|Judg|13|25|0|0" passage="Jdg 13:25">Judg. xiii. 25</scripRef>), because
celebrated for their military prowess), though posted in the left
wing when they encamped, was ordered in their march to bring up the
rear, <scripRef id="Num.iii-p5.8" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.31" parsed="|Num|2|31|0|0" passage="Nu 2:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>. They
were the most numerous, next to Judah, and therefore were ordered
into a post which, next to the front, required the most strength,
for as the strength is so shall the day be. <i>Lastly,</i> The
children of Israel observed the orders given them, and did <i>as
the Lord commanded Moses,</i> <scripRef id="Num.iii-p5.9" osisRef="Bible:Num.2.34" parsed="|Num|2|34|0|0" passage="Nu 2:34"><i>v.</i>
34</scripRef>. They put themselves in the posts assigned them,
without murmuring or disputing, and, as it was their safety, so it
was their beauty; Balaam was charmed with the sight of it: <i>How
goodly are thy tents, O Jacob!</i> <scripRef id="Num.iii-p5.10" osisRef="Bible:Num.24.5" parsed="|Num|24|5|0|0" passage="Nu 24:5"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 5</scripRef>. Thus the gospel church,
called the <i>camp of saints,</i> ought to be compact according to
the scripture model, every one knowing and keeping his place, and
then all that wish well to the church rejoice, <i>beholding their
order,</i> <scripRef id="Num.iii-p5.11" osisRef="Bible:Col.2.5" parsed="|Col|2|5|0|0" passage="Col 2:5">Col. ii. 5</scripRef>.</p>
</div></div2>